Larch Mountain
Columbia River GorgeBest May–Jun, Sep–Oct
4,000 vertical feet from Multnomah Falls to the volcanic crown of the west Gorge.
About This Trail
The Larch Mountain Trail is a workhorse Gorge hike that climbs from the base of Multnomah Falls to Sherrard Point, the 4,055-foot volcanic plug crowning the highest peak of the west Columbia River Gorge. The grade is gentle but relentless — 4,000 feet of gain spread across seven miles out, so the burn is in the legs, not the lungs.
The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire scorched the lower four and a half miles, with crown-fire zones higher up. What used to be cathedral Douglas-fir is now a study in ecosystem recovery — fireweed, scattered survivors of the old giants, and unburned forest at the top. Sherrard Point offers a 360-degree view of five Cascade volcanoes — Adams, St. Helens, Rainier, Jefferson, and Hood — on a clear day.
Access is complicated: Multnomah Falls requires timed-use permits and reserved parking on summer weekends. Many hikers shuttle and make this a 7-mile point-to-point from the top parking lot. Great training hike; less interesting for views on the way up until the upper sections.
Seasonal Highlights
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
Scorecard
Lower section near Multnomah is busy; upper trail thins out. Full-length hikers are relatively few.
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- Burn-zone snags that could fall in wind
- Creek crossings at Multnomah Creek — slick in wet conditions
Getting There
Multnomah Falls requires timed-use permits on summer weekends. Reserve via Recreation.gov. Alternative: drive to Sherrard Point parking and hike the upper portion.
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